JR. Dogs CUHL Mite Travel
Everything we do is rooted in long-term player and athletic development. The Ice Dogs experience is intentionally designed to help players improve season after season while maintaining the joy of the game that brought them here in the first place.
Development first. Built for the long game.
The Ice Dogs Hockey Association is a Tier II youth hockey club based out of Glacier Ice Arena in Vernon Hills, Illinois. We welcome new and returning families to the 2026-27 Fall Travel Hockey season as we continue our commitment to providing a complete youth hockey experience built on healthy development and a strong club culture.
Our club is built for families who value:
- Long-term growth over short-term labels
- Coaches who teach and mentor
- Smaller rosters and meaningful opportunities to grow
- Character development alongside skill development
- Team-first culture
- Multi-sport participation
- Family time and life balance
- Players who continue to love the game of hockey years from now
The Ice Dogs Way
The Ice Dogs Way isn't a destination. It isn't a standard we claim to have fully achieved. It’s the culture we continuously pursue as a club.
The Ice Dogs Way is a growth mindset that shapes how we coach, compete, and support one another.
The Ice Dogs Way is about showing up every day, with every team, for every season, with a commitment to doing the hard things, doing them with full effort, and doing them while demonstrating respect for all.
The Ice Dogs Way teaches our players to always:
Respect
Represent our club with pride and integrity.
Play with class and respect everyone.
Compete
Compete with fire in your heart and mind.
Embrace adversity and continuous improvement.
Lead
Lead by example.
Put the team above self and elevate those around you.
Our player development model
FALL SEASON | TEAM DEVELOPMENT & COMPETITION
SPRING SEASON | SKILL DEVELOPMENT & CONFIDENCE
SUMMER DEVELOPMENT | ATHLETIC GROWTH & PREPARATION
We understand every family's hockey journey is different and that players develop at different speeds. Youth hockey is not a race. Early labels and rankings don't define long-term potential. We think beyond each season.
That’s why our year-round development approach balances competition, skill development, and long-term athletic growth.
Upcoming Dates
May 22 Fall Registration Opens
August 15-16 Jr. Ice Dogs Tryouts
August 23 Ice Dogs Kick-Off BBQ
End of August Team Practices Begin
September 11 CUHL Seeding Round Begins
September 18 Ice Dogs Golf Outing
October 30 CUHL Regular Season Begins
November 14 Big Dog Bash
CUHL
Our Jr. Ice Dogs teams compete in the Chicago United Hockey League (CUHL) against other Tier II mite-level clubs in the Chicagoland area.
CUHL SEASON FORMAT
Seeding Round (6 Games): September 11 - October 18, 2026
Regular Season (18 Games): October 30, 2027 - February 14, 2027
Playoff Play-in Games: February 15 - February 18, 2027
Playoff Round Robin Games: February 19 - February 23, 2027
Super Sunday Championship Games: February 28, 2027
Jr. Ice Dogs Coaches
Coaching matters. Not just what is taught, but how it’s taught. Our dedicated Ice Dogs coaching staff creates an environment where players are challenged, supported, and encouraged to grow both on and off the ice.
Our coaching lineup for the 2026-27 Fall Travel Hockey season will be announced soon.
2026-27 Fall Tryouts $250
Ice Dogs coaches take a team-based approach to tryouts, ensuring that player selection is thoughtful, well-rounded, and based on a wide range of insight and experience. To maximize development opportunities for each player, we strive to offer smaller roster sizes. Final roster sizes are contingent on registration numbers and are part of the overall team evaluation process.
Our goal is to place every player in an environment where they can thrive alongside their teammates.
JR. ICE DOGS PRE-SEASON CLINICS
TBD
JR. ICE DOGS TRYOUTS
August 15-16, 2026
2026-27 Fall Season Fees
For the 2026-27 Fall Travel Hockey season, all Jr. Ice Dogs teams receive:
- 3 on-ice practices per week
- Access to supplemental off-ice training
- CUHL seeding round, regular season, and playoff games
- Smaller roster sizes
- Experienced coaching staff
- Practice jerseys
Players who are new to the Ice Dogs organization will also receive Home and Away game jerseys and socks. Returning players who need replacement jerseys will need to purchase them separately. Season fees and additional details are provided below.
Mite 8U CUHL Travel Hockey
COST: $3,480 SKATER / $2,490 GOALIE
- 25-30 games
- 2-3 slush-funded tournaments
Additional Team Commitments
We want to be transparent about a few extra commitments beyond the regular program fees. Each family will be asked to contribute to a team slush fund, which helps cover small, shared expenses during the season (like team snacks, supplies, Coach expenses, or special events).
Also, please keep in mind that travel to tournaments may be part of the season experience. These trips are at the coach's discretion and can be a great opportunity for team bonding and competition. Any travel-related costs (such as transportation, lodging, and meals) would be handled by each family.
We appreciate your understanding and support in giving our players the best possible experience!
NOTE:There is a service fee for using a credit card. There is no extra service fee when paying via electronic check.
The Junior Dogs are part of AAU.
Our new club code will be available in August, please stay tuned!
Want to try hockey without the burden of purchasing expensive equipment? Check our Rink Rat Rental!
Fall 2026-2027
Mite Fall Travel Hockey Birth Years 2020-2018
Register